Jazz Power Initiative

Jazz Power Initiative Our faculty is led by Managing and Artistic Director Eli Yamin, Senior Dance Teacher and Advisor Mickey Davidson, and Senior Voice Teacher Antoinette Montague.

Jazz Power Initiative (JPI), a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) organization engages thousands of New Yorkers and visitors annually – students, teachers, artists, and general audiences, in jazz music education and performances, building more creative communities. Jazz Power Initiative (JPI), a non profit, 501 (c) (3) organization, serves over 3100 New Yorkers and visitors annually – students, teachers, art

ists, seniors and general audiences, ages 8-80+, to promote youth development, and build more creative and inclusive communities through jazz music, theater and dance education and performance. Led by highly experienced teaching artists who are award-winning jazz, theater and dance professionals, JPI offers multidisciplinary training, scholarships and performance opportunities to New York City youth, ages 8-19, from every economic and social milieu through our “open-door” policy, with extended outreach to students in under-served New York City public schools in Northern Manhattan. We currently engage over 500 students and their teachers annually, providing after-school instruction mainly in Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood (where our offices are located) and the Bronx. Our youth education and community programs include after-school jazz workshops in music, dance and theatre online and at the United Palace in Washington Heights, private voice and piano keyboard lessons online and at our home studio in Inwood; our monthly Intergenerational Jazz Power Jam online and at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem; local community senior center workshops, and our annual Jazz Power Institute for artists and educators online and at Lehman College, City University in New York in the Bronx. Guest artists in our youth education and community programs include vocalists Catherine Russell, Charenee Wade, and Sweet Honey in the Rock founding members Carol Maillard and Louise Robinson; saxophonists Lakecia Benjamin, Camille Thurman (sax and vocal), Chris Byars, Jon Irabagon, Claire Daly, and Sun Ra Arkestra member Knoel Scott; Duke Ellington Orchestra trumpeters James Zollar, Mark McGowan and drummer David F. Gibson; and creative artist/educators Ray Anderson, trombone Bob Stewart, tuba, Curtis Stewart, violin; Latin Jazz band leaders Steven Oquendo, trumpet, Annette Aguilar, percussion, Dancers Mickey Davidson, Shireen Dickson and Okra Dance, Ximena Salgado and Rumbamena, Max Pollak and Rumba Tap. The Jazz Power House Trio is Eli Yamin, piano, Jennifer Vincent, bass and Dwayne “Cook” Broadnax, drums. Performance venues include Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club, The National Jazz Museum in Harlem, The United Palace in Washington Heights, and New York City Parks.

TODAY! Intergenerational Jazz Power Festival at Inwood Hill Park (218 st entrance) 4 - 8 p.m. Rain or shine! ☔️
06/14/2025

TODAY! Intergenerational Jazz Power Festival at Inwood Hill Park (218 st entrance) 4 - 8 p.m. Rain or shine! ☔️

Don't miss the incredible Luisito Quintero and 3rd Element All-Stars on June 21st at Plaza De Las Americas! FREE for Lat...
06/13/2025

Don't miss the incredible Luisito Quintero and 3rd Element All-Stars on June 21st at Plaza De Las Americas! FREE for Latin Jazz in The Heights in collaboration with Community League of The Heights.

OPEN with Rhina Valentin, featuring Eli Yamin, Annette A. Aguilar and Mayra Casales through a IG and FB Story today at 1...
06/13/2025

OPEN with Rhina Valentin, featuring Eli Yamin, Annette A. Aguilar and Mayra Casales through a IG and FB Story today at 12 pm, and Sat and Sun at 8 AM.

livestream link:
https://bronxnet.org/bxomni/

Friday: 5pm, 8pm

Saturday & Sunday: 10am

Crudo Creates is joining us for our Intergenerational Jazz Power Festival happening THIS Saturday at Inwood Hill Park! L...
06/12/2025

Crudo Creates is joining us for our Intergenerational Jazz Power Festival happening THIS Saturday at Inwood Hill Park! Listen to some fantastic music and step on the bus for some arts and crafts - we have a little something for everyone!

06/10/2025

Our Intergenerational Jazz Power Festival is THIS SATURDAY! Don't miss getting down with James Zollar and Zollar Systems! We'll see you at Inwood Hill Park, June 14th from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Message From Saturn has been performed all over the world including Russia and Montenegro, now we're bringing it to the ...
06/09/2025

Message From Saturn has been performed all over the world including Russia and Montenegro, now we're bringing it to the Bronx TOMORROW! Don't miss your chance to join us on the amazing journey through space as we discover the healing power of the blues. It's not too late to grab your tickets - get them now at bit.ly/JPIMFS

Join us in conversation with Mayra Casales of Cocomama, James Zollar of Zollar Systems, and Annette A. Aguilar of Bean B...
06/07/2025

Join us in conversation with Mayra Casales of Cocomama, James Zollar of Zollar Systems, and Annette A. Aguilar of Bean Bloco as they ramp up excitement for our Jazz Power Festival on June 14th! Tune in Live with Dr. E on June 11th, 12:00 p.m.

06/05/2025

Lift of is NEXT WEEK! Have you got your tickets for Message From Saturn on June 10th? We're swinging through the galaxy! Get your tickets at bit.ly/JPIMFS

Get ready for some sizzling music this summer in collaboration with Community League in The Heights (CLOTH)! Latin Jazz ...
05/30/2025

Get ready for some sizzling music this summer in collaboration with Community League in The Heights (CLOTH)! Latin Jazz in the Heights is back at Plaza De Las Americas: Featuring Luisito Quintero and 3rd Element All Stars on June 21st and Lulada Club New Yorks All Women Salsa Orchestra on June 28th! Save the dates and get ready to dance!

For arists and educators: join us at our Jazz Power Institute July 9th and 10th at Lehman College, FREE registration. Ja...
05/29/2025

For arists and educators: join us at our Jazz Power Institute July 9th and 10th at Lehman College, FREE registration. Jazz Power Institute offers a dynamic, inclusive space for educators and artists to explore jazz across music, dance, theatre, and writing. Learn culturally authentic teaching methods and gain tools to inspire learners from Pre-K to adult. Open to experienced and emerging educators alike. CTLE credit offered for educators. Register here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jazz-power-institute-2025-tickets-1373237934629?aff=oddtdtcreator .

Address

5030 Broadway, Suite 645
New York, NY
10034

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+19178181759

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Our Story

Through education and performance, Jazz Power Initiative transforms lives by fostering leadership, diversity, teamwork and self expression through jazz music, theatre, and dance. Currently, the Jazz Power Initiative (JPI) serves over 200 youth ages 10-20 and 50 teachers in its New York City Based programs and many more in collaborations throughout the United States and abroad. JPI also works with seniors and offers customized training for executives in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center. Other collaborators and presenters include the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, United Palace Cultural Theatre in Washington Heights, Lehman College in the Bronx, LaGuardia College in Queens and the U.S. Department of State.

Jazz Power Initiative (or JPI, formerly The Jazz Drama Program) was founded in 2003 as a 501(c)3 non-profit by jazz musician/educator Eli Yamin and teacher/writer Clifford Carlson to get youth involved in and excited about jazz. As jazz itself emerged as a way of musically expressing the Black experience in America, we believe this art form inherently offers invaluable lessons in self-expression, leadership, cooperation, out-of-the-box thinking, trust, respect and being present in the moment. We believe nurturing these values in our youth and communities through the power of jazz arts education can make the world a better place. By creating new jazz musicals, recording CD’s, distributing scores and scripts and offering professional development for teachers and executives and workshops for students, The Jazz Power Initiative is building new audiences and stakeholders in the jazz arts through the media of storytelling, music, theatre, dance and visual arts. Jazz Power Initiative is committed to promoting the humanitarian values of jazz and giving jazz artists including musicians, singers, dancers, actors and storytellers, meaningful platforms to create, share their knowledge and artistry, and pass it on. To date, JPI musicals have seen over 85 performances in fourteen states and five countries, involving thousands of young people and their families in sustained exposure and involvement in the jazz arts.